RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION - CARDIFF GROUP 

Minutes of meeting held Monday 30 November 2009 at Ramblers Cymru Offices

Present: Committee: Diane Davies (DD), Gwyn Lewis (GL), Jeff Hobden (JH), Paul Davies (PD), John Newton (JN), Mike Kohnstamm (MK), Dave Willock (DW), Jane Willock (JW), Kathryn Bennett (KB).
Apologies: Roma Whiteley (RW), Gillian Masters (GM).

1.  Chair for meeting: meeting chaired by DD.
 
2.  Minutes of the last meeting: minutes for 8 October 2009 were accepted. 

3.  Matters arising: 
~ Item 5f): GL confirmed approaching members regarding their joining the Committee;
~ Item 7e): GL to postpone purchase of "nice-to-have" maps pending improvement/clarification in Group's future finances;
~ Item 8): JN advised that Caerphilly Ramblers still to decide on joining the Ramblers.

4. AGM matters:
~ Committee thanked following: JN (chairing meeting); KB (slide-show); Robin & Val Hamilton (refreshments);
~ agreed that there be no change to successful AGM formula, ie slideshow/similar followed by AGM;
~ GL through WalkTalk to confirm Committee's support for short walks and encourage existing and new Walk Leaders to volunteer to lead short walks;
~ the Group's Wednesday Walk Programme is sufficiently diverse and flexible to accommodate all types of walk, walkers requesting particular type of walks to be encouraged to offer these walks to the Wednesday Walks Co-ordinator.

5. Cardiff Walks Leaflets: DD gave progress update (OS licence purchased) and confirmed project on schedule. Agreement that Committee would help in walk leaflet wallet "stuffing".

6. Walk Leader's Responsibilities:
~ following recent clarification from Ramblers Central on criteria defining walk incidents to be reported, GL to update Walk Leaders;
~ KB reported an incident (broken wrist) occurring on the Skirrid walk 25 Nov 2009. DD to contact Jude for details and submit incident report to Ramblers Central;
~ agreed that entry "General Information/Dogs" in Programme be enlarged to emphasise dog owners responsibility for the dogs actions on a Group walk. 

7. Financial Planning: from wide ranging discussion of JH paper "Budget Problems 2009-2012" following agreed:
~ need to make Area aware of the Group's potential financial problems beyond this financial year if Area Grant remains at 2009/10 level. JH to advise Area Treasurer.
~ no objection to including "outside" advertising within the Programme and on Group's website, need to clarify VAT issue and Ramblers acceptance of adverts guidelines (action JH).  

8. Issues for RA Swansea meeting 3 December 2009: in addition to questions addressing their own concerns regarding recent Ramblers events/etc, attendees DD, GL & KB to raise question of future Group Funding on behalf of the Committee.

9. Officers Reports: 
a) Treasurer: verbal report accepted.  
b) Footpath Officer: report issued pre-meeting accepted.
c) Secretary:
~ confusion over hosting Area 2010 resolved - Tiger Bay Group confirmed that they'll be hosting;
~ Group to change its Baton walk to Stepping Stones: Roath Park 13 March 2010. Walk Leaders have agreed. Baton to be provided by Minority Ethnic Women's Network and their representatives to join the walk.
d) Countryside & Environment: JN confirmed having responded to planning application (need to maintain the footpaths/rights of way; need for parking to be available to general public without any restrictions; need for proposed toilets to be open to the general public and not restricted to Snack Bar customers) re: Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar area.
e) Sunday Walks: suggestions in pre-meeting paper submitted by DW/JW accepted.

10 Any Other Business:
~ agreed that any contribution to Beverley Penney (refer Y Cerddwyr/Welsh Rambler, November 2009) be left to individuals;
~ dates of Committee meetings 2010:
Thursday February 4
Thursday April 15
Tuesday June 8
Monday August 9
Thursday October 7
AGM - TBA - either Tuesday or Thursday in November, depending on availability of Committee and/or preferred venue.

The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England and Wales no. 1093577, Scotland no. SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no. 4458492).  Registered office: 2^nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.